Tunnel collapse risk studied at busy Arizona border crossing

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The federal government said Monday it will investigate whether a drainage tunnel under a busy U.S.-Mexico border crossing in Arizona is at imminent risk of collapse and threatening the safety of motorists.

The General Services Administration said in a statement it will launch the study of the tunnel under the Nogales, Arizona, crossing next month.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake have warned that the tunnel carrying runoff from Mexico into Arizona could collapse and cause cave-ins, sending motorists and their cars plunging into it.

They also say a collapse could shut down the crossing used by thousands of cars and trucks daily.

The GSA said it expects that the tunnel study will take about a month.

Flooding caused the collapse of another drainage tunnel near the same crossing in 2008.

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This story has been corrected to show the last name of one of the senators is Flake, not Flack.